Change is inevitable. You seem to be handling it with equanimity and humour, Matthew. I love that you passed the pallet to your neighbour along with the DIY baton.
I love your post and found it difficult not to be distracted by the pallet talk as I have a compost empire built out of old pallets and I recently made an outside sink base out of a couple of old pallets, all constructed with less finesse than a toddler playing with bricks. Keeps me happy and,I suppose, that is the point.
Loved spending time with you this morning, Matthew. You always coax a smile, even when I’m feeling very serious. And there is seriousness here, too, but your way about things helps it feel a little easier.
Pallets, sheds and Van Gough. You made me smile, Matthew. I am so glad you are here with your practical, sardonic humour, and able to write about the challenges men face. We have a shop, so deal with around 5 unwanted pallets weekly, or rather our son-in-law does now, so relate to the palletic quandary very well. They are SO HEAVY!
If I could get into my studio, which is full of empty boxes so that I can sort my artistic treasures as I tidy up (not rubbish, as 'Im-indoors accuses), and if I treated the black mould that is creeping down from roof (because 'Im-indoors said that keeping it dry by using the greenhouse heater was wasteful, although it had successfully kept the space dry and usable for the previous five winters at minimal cost to me and I hope the planet and no purchases of black mould treatment or decorating materials were required), then I would put up disco-lights in my woman grotto. That might have been the longest sentence I have ever written. If you are an aficionado of 'Minder', you might understand the title, 'Im-indoors'.
I saw your note about the news (and went to look at the news..) then came back to read your post. Thank you for posting anyway, I feel it is important to keep going with everyday life - what is in our control and influence - in these situations. And your pallet story and reflections brought me back down to my own earth. All the best.
Ahh, I thought this might be a story of a bloke's 'Shed' but it was so much more than that and so clever. I saw your exact story of the 'not being an adequate outsiderishness man' in my Dad, as life tragically failed him through diseases he could not fight with the various widgets he could miraculously conjure from wire and an old sock! I loved seeing your old shed too, it reminded me of my Dad's and I'm glad someone else is using it. As children we never had to ask where Dad was. He 'was' the Shed.
Likewise we have used many over the years, and stacked them 'for something'. Nowadays, with our little house by the sea, little salt-swept garden and lower aspirations, I dismember them with my reciprocating saw, and burn them in my hearth-fire, or in a fire bowl outside some balmy summer nights.😁
I looked in vain for discarded prams with wheels - I already have a few six inch nails left over from a former life. Oh what fun we had before t’internet.
Change is inevitable. You seem to be handling it with equanimity and humour, Matthew. I love that you passed the pallet to your neighbour along with the DIY baton.
At last I got 5 minutes to read this. I can’t even begin to tell you how I dream of someone not keeping this just-in-case 🤯
Our garage is terrifying.
You made my day Matthew! 😄 (and I'm not even a man with a PID)
It’s a mutation on the Y chromosome Hilda.
I love your post and found it difficult not to be distracted by the pallet talk as I have a compost empire built out of old pallets and I recently made an outside sink base out of a couple of old pallets, all constructed with less finesse than a toddler playing with bricks. Keeps me happy and,I suppose, that is the point.
Ah Steve, I remember those days…
I loved this. It put a smile on my face. Today was a dull, rainy day here, so thank you!
Thank you, Arnaly. If my story has put a smile upon your face, then my work here is done.
You have the gift of always putting smiles in people’s faces. ☺️
Loved spending time with you this morning, Matthew. You always coax a smile, even when I’m feeling very serious. And there is seriousness here, too, but your way about things helps it feel a little easier.
Oh if only I had known - I need three pallets for a compost bin, or maybe seven so I can go all out with the turning it from one to the other thing!
Oh dang!
But Josie has plenty to spare…
Pallets, sheds and Van Gough. You made me smile, Matthew. I am so glad you are here with your practical, sardonic humour, and able to write about the challenges men face. We have a shop, so deal with around 5 unwanted pallets weekly, or rather our son-in-law does now, so relate to the palletic quandary very well. They are SO HEAVY!
Your Vincent shout out made me laugh out loud which considering today’s headlines is quite something.
If I could get into my studio, which is full of empty boxes so that I can sort my artistic treasures as I tidy up (not rubbish, as 'Im-indoors accuses), and if I treated the black mould that is creeping down from roof (because 'Im-indoors said that keeping it dry by using the greenhouse heater was wasteful, although it had successfully kept the space dry and usable for the previous five winters at minimal cost to me and I hope the planet and no purchases of black mould treatment or decorating materials were required), then I would put up disco-lights in my woman grotto. That might have been the longest sentence I have ever written. If you are an aficionado of 'Minder', you might understand the title, 'Im-indoors'.
Oh I get the reference, Di!
You have to watch out for when the black mould meets up with the white fungi on the floor. That’s when the world ends.
I saw your note about the news (and went to look at the news..) then came back to read your post. Thank you for posting anyway, I feel it is important to keep going with everyday life - what is in our control and influence - in these situations. And your pallet story and reflections brought me back down to my own earth. All the best.
Thank you, Siobhan.
I grew up with Cold War 4 minute warning and advice about sheets over windows.
We carried on.
We do.
Ahh, I thought this might be a story of a bloke's 'Shed' but it was so much more than that and so clever. I saw your exact story of the 'not being an adequate outsiderishness man' in my Dad, as life tragically failed him through diseases he could not fight with the various widgets he could miraculously conjure from wire and an old sock! I loved seeing your old shed too, it reminded me of my Dad's and I'm glad someone else is using it. As children we never had to ask where Dad was. He 'was' the Shed.
Cheers, Sally. May your Dad be in Shed Heaven.
Thanks Matthew. I know he will be!
Likewise we have used many over the years, and stacked them 'for something'. Nowadays, with our little house by the sea, little salt-swept garden and lower aspirations, I dismember them with my reciprocating saw, and burn them in my hearth-fire, or in a fire bowl outside some balmy summer nights.😁
I looked in vain for discarded prams with wheels - I already have a few six inch nails left over from a former life. Oh what fun we had before t’internet.